Method and integrated system for networked control of an environment of a mobile object

ABSTRACT

A controller ( 301 ), for example on a field interface of a resource management system ( 300 ), determines a location of a mobile object ( 303   a,    303   b,    303   c ) and controls an environment thereof. The controller ( 301 ) receives, via a first transceiver ( 307 ), a communication including information representative of the mobile object; receives a command via a second transceiver ( 317 ) and controls the environment outside of the mobile object responsive to the command and/or the communication. A controller, for example on the mobile object ( 303   a,    303   b,    303   c ), detects a location of the mobile object ( 303   a,    303   b,    303   c ) via device ( 305   a,    305   b,    305   c ). The controller collects information about the mobile object including location; transmits, to a controller via its transceiver, a communication including the information; receives a command via its transceiver; and controls operation of the mobile object responsive to the command.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for tracking mobile objects,and more particularly, to systems and methods for providing control ofan environment of an autonomous mobile object.

2. Description of the Related Art

Today's systems for control and management of resources can provide avast assortment of information collected in relation to any number ofresources. For example, conventional vehicles can be equipped toscrutinize themselves periodically, for example in relation tomaintenance programs and vehicle status. Conventional systems providethat information collected from a vehicle can include, for example,temperature, oil pressure, voltage, location, speed, distance, angle ofincline, weight, etc.

As another example, global positioning system (GPS) devices can beprovided built in to mobile objects, such as vehicles, so that themobile object can be tracked and located on demand. When the operator ofa vehicle equipped with GPS makes an emergency call, for example, thecaller is placed in direct contact with a system that can pinpoint thelocation of the vehicle.

GPS based vehicle tracking systems are used in a variety ofapplications. A city may use it to track bus routes; car manufacturersuse GPS based vehicle tracking systems to help locate stranded drivers.Generally, when a tracking system requires vehicle position data be sentto a central location during vehicle operation, some form ofcommunication interface is present in the vehicle.

A variety of resource management systems that are useful in relation toenvironmental control are known. Consider, for example, irrigationsystems which can be distributed over widespread areas in order tocontrol irrigation and/or fertigation.

The use of mobile objects in particular environments can alter theenvironment, however momentary the change may be. Moreover, theenvironment can have negative effects on the mobile object and/oroccupants of the mobile object.

Unfortunately, no attempt has been made to solve the problem ofinteraction between resources within disparate resource managementsystems, such as the mobile object and the environment in which it isplaced. The result has been that resource management conditions canoccur in a way which ignores the effect of mobile objects uponresources, such as the environment that is being managed, and the effectof the managed environment upon the mobile object.

Some aspects of conventional systems for tracking a mobile object areillustrated by way of example in FIG. 1, also described in U.S. Pat. No.5,610,815, Gudat et al, (“Gudat”), expressly incorporated herein byreference. The integrated vehicle positioning and navigation systemaccording to Gudat encompasses several systems, apparatus and/orfunctions. A VPS (Vehicle Positioning System) 101 subsystem of theoverall system 100 outputs position data that indicates where thevehicle is located. Position data output from the VPS is received by anavigator 106, which determines where the vehicle will go and how to getthere, and in turn outputs data composed of steer and speed commands toa vehicle controls functional block 108 to move the vehicle. The host102 from the base station 114 commands a vehicle 110 to take a route.The navigator 106 generates a path for the vehicle to attempt to follow.Position information 132 is derived from global positioning systemsatellites 103. A vehicle manager receives commands 118 from a remotecontrol panel 111 and the navigator 106, and decides which a mode (e.g.,autonomous, manual) the vehicle 110 should be in. Navigation of thevehicle 110 is obtained using the position information 132, routeinformation 114, and obstacle detection and avoidance data 116 detectedby a laser scanner 104.

The above prior art references and other conventional systems, however,fail to solve the problem of interaction between the mobile object and aresource management system in which it is placed, such as anenvironment. Moreover, none of these conventional systems provide fortaking into consideration the mobile objects that may be located in andhave an effect on other managed resources, such as an environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments can alleviate the deficiencies of conventionaltechniques and systems described above in the various alternateembodiments described herein. The present invention can respond to theneed for providing an interaction between the mobile object and aresource management system monitoring and/or controlling the environmentin which the mobile object is provided.

One or more aspects of the present invention can provide, for example,that the environmental controls take the mobile object intoconsideration when controlling the environment via the resourcemanagement system.

Accordingly, one or more embodiments of the present invention provide amethod, system, and computer program device for determining a locationof a mobile object and controlling an environment of the mobile object.A processor can communicate via first and second transceiver; canreceive, from a mobile object via the first transceiver, a communicationincluding information representative of the mobile object; can transmit,responsive to the communication, a first command to an other controllervia the second transceiver; can receive a second command via the secondtransceiver from the other controller; and can control the environmentoutside of the mobile object responsive to the second command and/or thecommunication.

According to one or more embodiments, there are provided a firsttransceiver, to receive communications transmitted from the mobileobject, and a second transceiver, to transmit and receive commands.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the processor is configuredto facilitate opening one or more communication channels to one or moreother controllers, and can transmit the first command to the othercontroller(s) on the communication channel(s).

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the processor is configuredto facilitate providing one or more communication channels from thefirst transceiver to a radio on the mobile object, and to facilitatereceiving the communication on the communication channel. Optionally,the first command is initiated at the controller and indicates alocation of the mobile object, a history of the mobile object, and anidentity of the mobile object. According to one or more embodiments, themobile object is a vehicle, and the history indicates information sensedregarding the status of the vehicle.

One or more embodiments provides for a memory, configured to storeinformation representative of an environment at a location of the firsttransceiver, wherein the processor determines whether or not to controlthe environment exterior of the vehicle responsive to the informationrepresentative of the environment at the location of the firsttransceiver.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the processor is configuredto facilitate communicating as part of a distributed network system. Oneor more embodiments provide that the distributed network system is apeer-to-peer network.

In accordance with exemplary embodiments and alternative embodiments,the processor facilitates controlling irrigation.

Further, in one or more embodiments, the processor can determine and/orpredict a location of the mobile object, and can transmit the firstcommand to the other controller when a location of the mobile objectwill be proximate to the other controller.

The second command, according to exemplary embodiments, is one or moreof: adjust irrigation operation, review irrigation operation, reviewenvironment sensors, review irrigation schedule, initiate watering,and/or disable watering.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the processor can transmit athird command to the mobile object to control an operation of the mobileobject.

One or more embodiments provide a controller for use in connection withdetermining a location of a mobile object, and controlling anenvironment of the mobile object. There is included a global positioningsystem (GPS), for sensing a location of the mobile object. Also includedis a processor, connected to the GPS, wherein the processor isconfigured to facilitate communicating via a transceiver; to facilitatecollecting information representative of the mobile object including atleast the location; to facilitate transmitting, to a controller via thetransceiver, a communication including the information representative ofthe mobile object; to facilitate receiving a command via the transceiverfrom the controller; and to facilitate controlling an operation of themobile object responsive to the command.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the controller is utilizedin the mobile object.

The controller of claim 14, further comprising a first transceiver,wherein the processor is configured to facilitate opening one or morecommunication channel to the other controller, and to facilitatecommunicating with the controller on the communication channel.Optionally, communication channel(s) is a short wave radio channel.

The information in accordance with one or more embodiments can include ahistory of the mobile object from information sensed by the mobileobject regarding a status of the mobile object, and an identity of themobile object.

According to one or more embodiments, the mobile object is a vehicle,and the history indicates information sensed regarding the status of thevehicle.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, the processor further isconfigured to facilitate storing the collected information when outsideof a communication range with the controller, and transmitting thestored information to the controller when the mobile object is withinthe communication range.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the PatentOffice and the public generally, and especially the scientists,engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patentor legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursoryinspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of theapplication. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention ofthe application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended tobe limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. These togetherwith other objects of the invention, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operatingadvantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, referenceshould be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The above-mentioned and other advantages and features of the presentinvention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription of the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a prior art integratedvehicle positioning and navigation system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a central control irrigationsystem, in accordance with one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a simplified networkof controllers that can be utilized in connection with mobile objects,for use in accordance with exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplarycontroller, in accordance with various exemplary and alternativeexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplary module,for use in operation of exemplary and alternative exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example process for processingmobile object information, in accordance with various exemplary andalternative exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of processing by themodule, in accordance with various exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a simplified network for use inconnection with one or more exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments;

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a computer, suitable for use inconnection with carrying out one or more embodiments of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of the internal hardware of thecomputer of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments can provide for tracking a mobile object, andcontrolling an environment of the mobile object, for example via aresource management system. Such resource management systems can benefitby providing site management and/or site maintenance whilstincorporating tracking and control of the mobile object. An exemplaryand alternative exemplary embodiment can be utilized, for example, inconnection with golf courses, parks, and the like.

The following detailed description includes many specific details. Theinclusion of such details is for the purpose of illustration only andshould not be understood to limit the invention. Throughout thisdiscussion, similar elements are referred to by similar numbers in thevarious figures for ease of reference. In addition, features in oneembodiment may be combined with features in other embodiments of theinvention.

It is further understood that relational terms such as first and second,and the like, if any, are used solely to distinguish one from anotherentity, item, or action without necessarily requiring or implying anyactual such relationship or order between such entities, items oractions.

Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principleswhen implemented are best supported with or in software or integratedcircuits (ICs), such as a digital signal processor and softwaretherefore or application specific ICs. It is expected that one ofordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and manydesign choices motivated by, for example, available time, currenttechnology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts andprinciples disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating suchsoftware instructions or ICs with minimal experimentation. Therefore, inthe interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring theprinciples and concepts according to the present invention, furtherdiscussion of such software and ICs, if any, will be limited to theessentials with respect to the principles and concepts used by thepreferred embodiments.

In overview, the present disclosure discusses wireless communicationsdevices or units, often referred to as communication units, such ascellular phone or two-way radios, pagers, walkie talkies, other wirelesscommunication devices, and the like, that can be associated with acommunication system such as an Enterprise Network, a cellular RadioAccess Network, a dispatch network, unit-to-unit communications, or thelike. Such communication systems may further provide services such asvoice and data communications services to the communication units. Theterm communication unit may be used interchangeably herein withsubscriber unit, wireless subscriber unit, phone, two-way radio,wireless subscriber device or the like. Each of these terms denotes atypically a wireless mobile device that may be used with a dispatchnetwork, a public network, for example in accordance with a serviceagreement, unit-to-unit, or within a private network such as anenterprise network.

The communication systems and communication units of particular interestare those providing or facilitating data communications services overdispatch networks, such as talk-around dispatch systems, cellular widearea networks (WANs), such as conventional two way systems and devices,various cellular phone systems including analog and digital cellular,CDMA (code division multiple access) and variants thereof, Global Systemfor Mobile communications (GSM), GPRS (General Packet Radio System),2.5G and 3G systems such as UMTS (Universal Mobile TelecommunicationService) systems, Internet Protocol (IP) Wireless Wide Area Networkslike 802.16, or 802.20, integrated digital enhanced networks, quadratureamplitude modulation systems (Quad QAM), unit-to-unit communicationssystems, and variants or evolutions thereof. Furthermore the wirelesscommunication units or devices of interest may have short range wirelesscommunications capability. For relatively small service areas, low powerradios can advantageously be used, whereas for large areas, cellularradio technology can advantageously be used.

Furthermore, one or more aspects of the present invention can providefor tracking a mobile object, and can control an environment of themobile object utilizing a resource management system. In exemplaryembodiments and alternative exemplary embodiments, for example, a golfcourse may have a resource management system such as an irrigationsystem and a conventional vehicle tracking system, e.g., utilizing acapability of locating the mobile object, e.g., via GPS.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, illustrating an irrigation system insimplified form. The irrigation system architecture 203 used to controllarge sites, such as golf courses, is typically implemented inaccordance with one or more embodiments as a central controller 201controlling field satellites that perform the irrigation. Individualirrigation controllers 207, each of which can be set up to controltypically between eight and one hundred individual valves, can bedistributed on the irrigation site as required. After their locationsare chosen, a communications system 205 may be installed to allow datacommunication between the controllers 207 and/or between the controllers207 and the central controller 201, such as a computer. Thecommunication hardware can be physical wire, data radios, phone modems,cellular radios, etc. It will be appreciated that integrating thecommunication capability can greatly simplify the maintenance of a largesite. The irrigation system architecture can allow the entire site to bemonitored and maintained in one or more embodiments from a singlelocation. Providing a system and process whereby the resource managementsystem and the mobile object tracking system work together cansignificantly enhance the management of the resources.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, as discussed herein, thecapability of locating the mobile object can advantageously beimplemented utilizing GPS vehicle tracking functionality in connectionwith an irrigation system. In accordance with alternative exemplaryembodiments, other means can be utilized to determine a location of themobile object, for example, other location sensing systems and devices.

The resource management system such as an irrigation system canincorporate bi-directional communications (such as radio, modem,hard-wired, or as previously discussed), for example on a communicationchannel, and an optional free data port that can allow peripheralcomponents access to the communication channel.

According to one or more embodiments, the communication channel canincorporate a global positioning system (GPS) radio subsystem, includingfor example client and server spread spectrum radios. Spread spectrumradios can be lower power, license free radios that can use frequencyhopping technology to reliably exchange data in a noisy environment.These radios can additionally be programmed to operate on differentradio channels, which are effectively different frequency hoppingpatterns. The different channels allow radio links between separateradio systems to operate within range of one another.

A spread spectrum radio link can include a server radio that broadcastsa periodic message (e.g., a beacon) on a radio channel to which it isassigned. When a client radio on the same channel detects the periodicmessage, e.g., the beacon, a communication channel can be establishedbetween the radios in accordance with known techniques. In accordancewith known techniques, two or more client radios can have a link to thesame server radio.

The mobile object, such as a vehicle, can incorporate or be attached toa module including a client radio. Field interfaces to the resourcemanagement system, for example controllers in the field that areutilized in managing the environmental resources and/or controllingenvironmental conditions, can advantageously incorporate or utilizeserver radios.

Multiple server radios can be used to increase a scope of coverage. Inaccordance with known radio communication techniques, if two or moreserver radios are within range of each other, they can operate onseparate channels so as to maintain distinct communication channels.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system for use inconnection with tracking a mobile object and controlling an environmentthereof, in accordance with exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. In overview, FIG. 3 illustrates aresource management system 300 including for the sake of illustrationthree controllers 301 in connection with field interfaces, incommunication via a network 317, for example a peer-to-peer network, andan optional central computer 311 communicating with a base stationinterface 313, together forming a portion of a resource managementsystem 300. According to exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments, a base station hosting a base station interface 313 can bea controller. Various mobile objects 303 a, 303 b, 303 c, e.g.,vehicles, move in and through the resource that is being managed.

Communication between the mobile objects and the resource managementsystem can be provided, for example by providing a module with acommunication device such as a client radio 309 with the mobile object,and by providing a controller with an appropriate communication devicesuch as a server radio 307 on a field interface. A communication device315 can be added to the optional base station interface 313.

At least a portion of the controllers 301 include a communicationdevice, e.g., server radios 307. A service area in the illustratedexample encompasses the ranges 319 a, 319 b, 319 c. The server radios307 optionally can communicate with a location determination device, forexample a GPS server 305 a, 305 b, 305 c, to obtain a location of themobile objects.

Various controllers 301 with server radios 307 can be deployed in thesite of the resource management system as desired, for example, and/orserver radios 307 can be deployed on controllers 301 in the field thatis supported by the resource management system, so as to provide aservice area 300 that generally encompasses the various ranges 319 a,319 b, 319 c.

According to exemplary and alternative exemplary embodiments, the rangeof a server radio 307 can be increased beyond the boundaries of theranges by utilizing a field repeater in accordance with known techniquesto add coverage. In the illustrated embodiment, vehicle two 303 b is inan area that is not covered by one of the ranges; a repeater or othermethod/device for extending a range of communication can be added, e.g.,in an appropriate location, if desired to maintain coverage.

A controller 301 with a server radio 307 can be configured to allowdata, e.g., GPS data, to pass between the radio, e.g., the GPS radio 305a, 305 b, 305 c, and the communication link 317. According to exemplaryand alternative exemplary embodiments, the server radios 307 can run onunique channels, although the server radios 307 can function adequatelyon identical channels where coverage areas do not intersect. In theillustrated embodiment, for example, the ranges of server radios 307 ofthe channel 1 319 a and channel 2 319 b do not overlap, therefore theycould be programmed to the same channel without interfering. On theother hand, in the illustrated embodiment, the ranges of server radios307 of channel 1 319 a and channel 3 319 c overlap. In this situation,according to exemplary embodiments, the server radios having ranges thatoverlap can run on separate radio channels (e.g., channel 1 and channel3); the server radios with overlapping ranges can optionally beprogrammed in accordance with known techniques to synchronize with theother channel(s).

Modules provided for the mobile objects can include a list of serverchannels previously determined to be available within the particularresource management system. In the present illustrated example, the listwould include channels 1, 2 and 3.

As the mobile object, e.g., a vehicle, moves throughout the servicearea, a module on the mobile object with the client radio can detectand/or determine whether the module (and therefore the mobile object) isin range of a particular controller. For example, the module of themobile object can monitor the status of the radio link; if the link isdropped, the module can switch channels in the list until a link to thecontroller is re-established. According to alternative exemplaryembodiments, once a valid link to a server is present, the link from themodule to the optional central computer 311 can be implied, where thecontrollers 301 are linked to the central computer 311 via thecommunication network 317.

One or more embodiments provide that at least a portion of the systemand software can be distributed to the optional central computer 311used for the resource management system, for example, irrigationcontrol.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplary controlunit for use in accordance with various exemplary and alternativeexemplary embodiments. This exemplary controller can advantageously beimplemented on or used in connection with, e.g., a field interface 401discussed in connection with FIG. 3 above, for example, an irrigationcontroller. The field interface 401 may incorporate a controller 405,and may include a first transceiver 402, a second transceiver 403, anoptional display 407, an optional communication port 411 forcommunication with an external environmental control device 409, aprocessor 419, a memory 421, and/or an optional user input device suchas a keypad 417.

The first transceiver 402 may be adapted to communicate with acommunication device of the module on the mobile object. In accordancewith one or more embodiments, the communication device on the mobileobject can have a short-range transmitter and/or receiver. The secondtransceiver 403 may be adapted to communicate with other controllers atfield interfaces and/or a controller at a base station.

The processor 419 may comprise one or more microprocessors and/or one ormore digital signal processors. The memory 421 may be coupled to theprocessor 419 and may comprise a read-only memory (ROM), a random-accessmemory (RAM), a programmable ROM (PROM), and/or an electrically erasableread-only memory (EEPROM). The memory 421 may include multiple memorylocations for storing, inter alia, an operating system, data andvariables 423 for programs executed by the processor 419; computerprograms for causing the processor to operate in connection with variousfunctions such as controlling an environmental condition 425, collectinginformation 427, communication of messages 429, and/or other processing(not illustrated); a database 1 431 of various other data, e.g., tablesused for determining commands and temporarily storing environmentaland/or mobile object history data; and/or a database 433 for otherinformation used by the processor 419. The computer programs may bestored, for example, in ROM or PROM and may direct the processor 419 incontrolling the operation of the field interface 401.

According to one or more exemplary and alternative embodiments, theprocessor 419 may be programmed to interact with the user, for exampleas described above. The user may input information and can invokefunctions accessible through the optional user input device 417. Theoptional user input device 417 may comprise one or more of various knowninput devices, such as a keypad, a computer mouse, a touchpad, a touchscreen, a trackball, and/or a keyboard. The optional image display 407may present, for example, messages or other information to the user byway of a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) or other visualdisplay.

The environmental control device 409 can be, for example one or moredevices intended to affect the environment at the field interface. Forexample, where the resource being managed includes a turf, theenvironmental control device can be a valve for a sprinkler, in order tocontrol irrigation and/or fertigation. As another example, where theresource includes salt and/or sand, the environmental control device canbe one or more of the salt and/or sand sprayers/spreaders, brinesolution dispensers, and temperature and/or freeze detect sensors in,e.g., a roadway.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating portions of an exemplary modulefor a mobile object 501 for use in accordance with various exemplary andalternative exemplary embodiments. The mobile object 501 mayincorporate, be connected to, or otherwise include a module 505, atransceiver 503, a processor 507, a memory 509, and one or more sensors521.

The transceiver 503 may be adapted to communicate with a communicationdevice on the controller(s) at field interfaces. In accordance with oneor more embodiments, the transceiver 503 on the mobile object 501 can bea short-range transmitter and/or receiver. The processor 507 maycomprise one or more microprocessors and/or one or more digital signalprocessors. The memory 509 may be coupled to the processor 507 and maycomprise a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), aprogrammable ROM (PROM), and/or an electrically erasable read-onlymemory (EEPROM). The memory 509 may include multiple memory locationsfor storing, inter alia, an operating system, data and variables 511 forprograms executed by the processor 507; computer programs for causingthe processor to operate in connection with various functions such ascollecting information 513, e.g., from sensors 521, communication ofmessages 515, and/or other processing (not illustrated); a database 1517 of various other data, e.g., tables used for determining commandsand temporarily storing mobile object data in a history; and/or adatabase 519 for other information used by the processor 507. Thecomputer programs may be stored, for example, in ROM or PROM and maydirect the processor 507 in controlling the operation of the mobileobject 501.

The sensors 521 can be distributed in or throughout the mobile object,in order to detect, sense or otherwise collect various informationregarding a condition and/or status of the mobile object. The type ofsensors and the data collected can vary as desired, and can be providedin connection with known techniques.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, operation of the mobileobject can be controlled, responsive to commands received from thecommunication interface. Where the mobile object includes equipment toaffect the environmental conditions (e.g., the mobile object is avehicle equipped with a mower), for example, the equipment can becontrolled to be on or off or at certain levels in response to suchcommands. As another example, the mobile object itself can be poweredoff and/or on, in response to such a command.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example process for processingmobile object information, in accordance with various exemplary andalternative exemplary embodiments. In accordance with one or moreexemplary and alternative exemplary embodiments, the process can beadvantageously implemented on one or more devices that comprise aportion of the resource management system, for example the controller ofthe field interface, as illustrated for example in connection with FIG.4. The process provides for detecting the mobile object when in range603, as described for example above. When the mobile object is detectedin range, the process provides for opening a communication channel tothe mobile object 605, as previously described herein. When thecommunication channel is open, the processor provides for receivinginformation from the mobile object 607, for example via the serverradio.

Advantageously, information from the mobile object can be transmitted ina communication packet. The information transmitted can include, forexample, an identity of the mobile object, a location of the mobileobject, and other sensed information from the mobile object, forexample, speed, distance traveled since last update, and other senseddata. Some or all of the information transmitted from the mobile objectcan be stored, for example, to provide for tracking of the mobileobject.

At 609, the process determines whether the environment managed by theresource management system should be controlled. For example, if theenvironment in the location of the controller may affect the mobileobject, the environment can be controlled. As a more specific example,consider that the resource being managed is a turf under irrigationcontrol; if the location of the field under control of the controller orother controllers in the vicinity is presently being irrigated, one ormore controllers can temporarily suspend irrigation, optionallyaccommodating the suspended activity in the usual resource managementprogram.

At 611, the process determines whether there is a need to control theenvironment at the present controller. For example, where the mobileobject is traveling through an area presently under irrigation,irrigation at the controller can be suspended by performing the usualactions to stop irrigating, 617.

At 613, the process determines whether there is a need to control theenvironment at another controller. According to exemplary andalternative exemplary embodiments, it may be desirable to control theenvironment if a controllable condition in the environment will have anundesired effect upon the mobile object. As a specific example, wherethe mobile object is a vehicle with a passenger that will be travelingthrough an area presently under irrigation at another controller,irrigation at the other controller can be suspended by transmitting anappropriate command to the other controller, thereby causing the othercontroller to stop irrigating, 619. The predicted path of the mobileobject can be determined, for example, according to known techniques,and it can then be determined when a predicted location of the mobileobject will be proximate to one of the other controllers. Commands tothe other controller for controlling irrigation could include, forexample, adjust irrigation operation, review irrigation operation,review environment sensors, review irrigation schedule, initiatewatering, and disable watering.

At 615, where the mobile object is still in range, the process can loopback to continue to receive information from the mobile object 607. Onthe other hand, if the mobile object has moved out of range, the processcan loop back to await a detection of a mobile object within range ofthe controller 603.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an example of processing by themobile object 701, in accordance with various exemplary and alternativeexemplary embodiments. In accordance with one or more exemplary andalternative exemplary embodiments, the process can be advantageouslyimplemented on a device that is connected to or comprises a portion ofthe mobile object, for example the module illustrated in connection withFIG. 5. At 703, the process determines whether a controller is in range.If there is no controller in range, the process loops. If a controlleris detected in range, the process determines what controller is in range705, according to one or more embodiments, in order to open anappropriate communication channel 707. At 709, the process obtainscurrent and historical information regarding the mobile object, andtransmits the current and historical information (if any) via thecommunication channel to the controller. The process continues totransmit current and historical information 709, while the controller isin range 711. If the controller is out of range 711, the process storesthe information as historical information for later transmission 713. Inthis way, advantageously, a mobile object can travel out of range of thecontrollers in the field and can still have the opportunity to forward acomplete set of information regarding, for example, a sensed status ofthe mobile object.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a network for use in connectionwith one or more exemplary and alternative exemplary embodiments. Thisfigure illustrates a simplified example network for use in connectionwith a resource management system comprising irrigation controllers. Asillustrated, an irrigation controller system may include severalirrigation controllers 803, transmitting and receiving data 809 to eachother via a communication bus 805. According to one or more embodiments,the irrigation controllers are advantageously embodied in a peer-to-peernetwork. Optionally, a computer 801 a may communicate 807 with one ormore of the irrigation controllers 803; or a computer 801 b maycommunicate 811 directly with the irrigation controllers 803 via thecommunication bus 805. Information can be communicated from thetransceiver 817 of the mobile objects 815 and collected by thecontrollers 803 via the transceiver 813. According to one or moreexemplary and alternative exemplary embodiments, the collectedinformation further can be provided to the computer 801 a communicatingvia the communication bus 805 from controllers 803. Moreover, one ormore computers 801 a, 801 b optionally can provide control over thecontrollers 803, for example, download particular programs. Inoperation, the network of controllers may include more or fewercontrollers, and may omit the computers.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a computer, suitable for use inconnection with carrying out one or more embodiments of the presentinvention. Viewed externally in FIG. 9, computer 58 has a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 68 having disk drives 69, 70. Disk drives 69, 70are merely symbolic of a number of disk drives that might beaccommodated by computer 58. Typically, these might be one or more ofthe following: a floppy disk drive 69, a hard disk drive (not shown),and a CD ROM or digital video disk, as indicated by the slot at 70. Thenumber and type of drives varies, typically with different computerconfigurations. Disk drives 69, 70 are, in fact, options, and for spaceconsiderations, may be omitted from the computer system used inconjunction with the processes described herein.

Computer 58 also has a display 71 upon which information may bedisplayed. The display is optional for the computer used in conjunctionwith the system described herein. A keyboard 72 and/or a pointing device73, such as a mouse 73, may be provided as input devices to interfacewith central processing unit 68. To increase input efficiency, keyboard72 may be supplemented or replaced with a scanner, card reader, or otherdata input device. The pointing device 73 may be a mouse, touch padcontrol device, track ball device, or any other type of pointing device.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of the internal hardware of thecomputer of FIG. 9. CPU 75 is the central processing unit of the system,performing calculations and logic operations required to execute aprogram. Read only memory (ROM) 76 and random access memory (RAM) 77constitute the main memory of the computer. Disk controller 78interfaces one or more disk drives to the system bus 74. These diskdrives may be floppy disk drives such as 79, or CD ROM or DVD (digitalvideo/versatile disk) drives, as at 80, or internal or external harddrives 81. As previously indicated these various disk drives and diskcontrollers are optional devices.

A display interface 82 permits information from bus 74 to be displayedon the display 83. Again, as indicated, the display 83 is an optionalaccessory for a central or remote computer in the communication network,as are infrared receiver 88 and transmitter 89. Communication withexternal devices can occur using communications port 84.

In addition to the standard components of the computer, the computer mayalso include an interface 85, which allows for data input through thekeyboard 86 or pointing device, such as a mouse 87.

The processing described herein could be controlled by a softwareprogram, or could even be partially or wholly implemented in hardware.The system used in connection with the invention may rely on theintegration of various components, as appropriate and/or if desired.

It should be understood that the invention is described in connectionwith logical groupings of functions or resources. One or more of theselogical groupings may be omitted from one or more embodiments, and stillremain within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, functionsmay be grouped differently, combined, or augmented without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Similarly the present description maydescribe various databases or collections of data and information. Oneor more groupings of the data or information may be omitted,distributed, combined, or augmented, or provided locally and/or remotelywithout departing from the scope of the invention.

One or more alternative embodiments of the present invention may be usedin connection with a computer communicating via the network, althoughuse of the computer is not necessary for other embodiments.

Further, this invention has been discussed in certain examples as if itis made available to a single mobile object. The invention may beutilized in connection with numerous mobile objects, if preferred. Thesystem used in connection with the invention may rely on the integrationof various components including, as appropriate and/or if desired,hardware and software servers, database engines, and/or other contentproviders.

The system according to one or more embodiments of the invention isoptionally suitably equipped with a multitude or combination ofprocessors or storage devices. For example, the computer may be replacedby, or combined with, any suitable processing system operative inaccordance with the principles of embodiments of the present invention,including sophisticated calculators, hand held, laptop/notebook, mini,mainframe and super computers, as well as processing system networkcombinations of the same. Further, portions of the system may beprovided in any appropriate electronic format, including, for example,provided over a communication line as electronic signals, provided onfloppy disk, provided on CD ROM, provided on optical disk memory, etc.

Any presently available or future developed computer software languageand/or hardware components can be employed in such embodiments of thepresent invention. For example, at least some of the functionalitymentioned above could be implemented using Visual Basic, C, C++ or anyassembly language appropriate in view of the processor being used.

As another example, the system may be a general purpose computer, or aspecially programmed special purpose computer. It may also beimplemented to include a distributed computer system rather than as asingle computer; some of the distributed system might include embeddedsystems. Similarly, the processing could be controlled by a softwareprogram on one or more computer systems or processors, or could bepartially or wholly implemented in hardware.

The system used in connection with the invention may rely on theintegration of various components including, as appropriate and/or ifdesired, hardware and software servers, database engines, and/or otherresource management system components. The configuration may be,alternatively, network-based and may, if desired, use the Internet tocommunicate between controllers and/or the optional central computer.

One or more embodiments can include a process and/or steps. Where stepsare indicated, they may be performed in any order, unless expressly andnecessarily limited to a particular order. Steps that are not so limitedmay be performed in any order.

1. A controller for determining a location of a mobile object andcontrolling an environment of the mobile object, comprising: (A) aprocessor, wherein the processor is configured to facilitatecommunicating via a first transceiver and a second transceiver; tofacilitate receiving, from a mobile object via the first transceiver, acommunication including information representative of the mobile object;to facilitate transmitting, responsive to the communication, a firstcommand to an other controller via the second transceiver; to facilitatereceiving a second command via the second transceiver from the othercontroller; and to facilitate controlling the environment outside of themobile object responsive to at least one of the second command and thecommunication.
 2. The controller of claim 1, further comprising: (B) afirst transceiver, to receive communications transmitted from the mobileobject; and (C) a second transceiver, to transmit and receive commands.3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured tofacilitate opening at least one communication channel to at least oneother controller, and to facilitate transmitting the first command tothe at least one other controller on the communication channel.
 4. Thecontroller of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to facilitateproviding at least one communication channel from the first transceiverto a radio on the mobile object, and to facilitate receiving thecommunication on the communication channel.
 5. The controller of claim1, wherein the first command is initiated at the controller andindicates a location of the mobile object, a history of the mobileobject, and an identity of the mobile object.
 6. The controller of claim5, wherein the mobile object is a vehicle, and wherein the historyindicates information sensed regarding the status of the vehicle.
 7. Thecontroller of claim 1, further comprising a memory, configured to storeinformation representative of an environment at a location of the firsttransceiver, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitatedetermining whether or not to control the environment exterior of thevehicle responsive to the information representative of the environmentat the location of the first transceiver.
 8. The controller of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate communicatingas part of a distributed network system.
 9. The controller of claim 8,wherein the distributed network system is a peer-to-peer network. 10.The controller of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configuredto facilitate controlling irrigation.
 11. The controller of claim 1,wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate at least oneof determining and predicting a location of the mobile object, and tofacilitate transmitting the first command to the other controller when alocation of the mobile object will be proximate to the other controller.12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the second command is at leastone of: adjust irrigation operation, review irrigation operation, reviewenvironment sensors, review irrigation schedule, initiate watering, anddisable watering.
 13. The controller of claim 1, wherein the processoris further configured to facilitate transmitting a third command to themobile object to control an operation of the mobile object.
 14. Acontroller for use in connection with determining a location of a mobileobject, and controlling an environment of the mobile object, comprising:(A) a global positioning system (GPS), for sensing a location of themobile object; (B) a processor, connected to the GPS, wherein theprocessor is configured to facilitate communicating via a transceiver;to facilitate collecting information representative of the mobile objectincluding at least the location; to facilitate transmitting, to acontroller via the transceiver, a communication including theinformation representative of the mobile object; to facilitate receivinga command via the transceiver from the controller; and to facilitatecontrolling an operation of the mobile object responsive to the command.15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the controller is utilized inthe mobile object.
 16. The controller of claim 14, further comprising afirst transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to facilitateopening at least one communication channel to the other controller, andto facilitate communicating with the controller on the communicationchannel.
 17. The controller of claim 16, wherein the at least onecommunication channel is a short wave radio channel.
 18. The controllerof claim 14, wherein the information further includes a history of themobile object from information sensed by the mobile object regarding astatus of the mobile object, and an identity of the mobile object. 19.The controller of claim 14, wherein the mobile object is a vehicle, andwherein the history indicates information sensed regarding the status ofthe vehicle.
 20. The controller of claim 14, wherein the processor isfurther configured to facilitate storing the collected information whenoutside of a communication range with the controller, and transmittingthe stored information to the controller when the mobile object iswithin the communication range.
 21. A method for determining a locationof a mobile object in connection with a peer-to-peer distributed networksystem, where the distributed network includes a plurality ofcontrollers, comprising the at least one of sequential, non-sequential,and sequence-independent steps of: (A) sensing, in at least onecontroller of a plurality of controllers, a location of the mobileobject; (B) receiving, from the mobile object, informationrepresentative of a condition of the mobile object; (C) transmitting,responsive to the received information, the information to at least oneother controller; (D) controlling, responsive to the receivedinformation, in the at least one controller, an environmental conditionof the mobile object.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein theenvironmental condition includes at least one of an irrigation conditionand a fertigation condition.